Can young people with cancer have the coronavirus vaccine?
There are four coronavirus vaccines that have been approved for use in the UK and one, Pfizer BioNTech, is the preferred vaccine for use for eligible young people. All vaccines approved for use in the UK have gone through rigorous trials and have been shown to be safe and very effective protecting against severe illness from coronavirus.
You are viewing: If you’re aged 12-15
If you’re aged 12-15
All young people aged 12-15 are eligible to have two doses of the vaccine. You will need your parent or guardian’s consent to get the vaccine. You can find out more about consent from Gov.uk.
Some young people aged 12-15 who are at a higher risk from coronavirus - including some people with cancer - will be given a third primary dose of the vaccine. This is a ‘top-up’ dose which provides extra protection for those who may not have had a full immune response to the first two doses. This is not the same as the ‘booster’ dose. If you’re eligible to have this third primary dose the NHS will get in touch with you.
If you are eligible for a third primary dose, then you will also be eligible for a booster dose of the vaccine. If you had a third primary dose, then you will need to wait three months before having your booster.
Some other young people aged 12-15 who haven’t had a third primary dose are also eligible to have a booster dose of the vaccine. This applies to young people who live with someone with a weakened immune system who is at high risk of getting really ill if they get coronavirus.
If you have questions about what you are eligible for you should speak to your clinical team. You can find more information about the booster dose and who can have it on the NHS website.
If you’re 16 and over
Young people aged 16 and over are eligible for two doses of the vaccine and a booster dose.
You may have already had one or two doses of the vaccine. If not, it’s not too late - you should get in touch with your GP or clinical care team or go online to book. You can also go to a walk-in centre, find out where they are located on the NHS website.
If you’re 16 and over and have weakened immune system,- including some people with cancer – you will also be eligible for a third primary dose of the vaccine. This is a ‘top-up’ dose which provides extra protection for those who may not have had a full immune response to the first two doses. This is not the same as the ‘booster’ dose. If you’re eligible to have this third primary dose the NHS will get in touch with you.
Everyone over 16 is eligible for the booster dose of the vaccine from three months after your second or third primary dose of the vaccine. You can book your booster on the NHS website or you can find a walk-in coronavirus vaccination site here.